]]>According to new polls from Magellan Strategies, the vast majority of likely voters in three Republican-held districts—CD-10, CD-21, and CD-22—support immigration reform that creates a path to citizenship for 11 million aspiring Americans. These findings confirm the results of hundreds of other surveys conducted over the past few years.

The Magellan Strategies polls reveal something more about the political dynamics behind immigration reform. Americans are hungry for leadership, bipartisanship, and problem-solving. Voters in these districts would have a more favorable opinion of Republicans and Democrats if they actually work together to pass immigration reform.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, Republican voters are just as supportive of immigration reform as Democrats and Independents in these districts. The hardcore anti-immigration voting bloc is simply not that large and not that powerful—even inside the GOP.

Seventy-two percent of likely 2014 voters in Rep. Denham’s district support immigration legislation[ii] along the lines of HR 15, including 68% of Republicans. Only 22% of voters oppose this type of immigration reform. The citizenship component[iii] of this legislation is supported by 69% of likely voters (75% of Republicans).

If Rep. Denham were to sponsor legislation along these lines, 43% of voters in CD-10 say they would be more likely to vote for him, while 25% say it would not change their vote either way. Fifty percent of Latinos and 51% of Republicans say they would be more likely to vote for Denham if he sponsors the bill.

If Republicans and Democrats work together to pass this proposal, 54% of likely voters in this district—including 60% of Republicans—say they would have a better opinion of Republicans in Congress. Only 19% of all likely voters and 16% of Republicans say it would give them a lower opinion of the GOP.

Voters in CD-10 also believe in democracy. Fifty-four percent (including 60% of Independents) say that the Speaker of the House should hold an up-or-down vote on the immigration bill and let a bipartisan majority speak. Only 33% say he should wait until a majority of Republican members specifically agree. In a July 2013 Latino Decisions poll in 24 Republican-held battleground districts, 71% of Latino voters said that Speaker Boehner’s reliance upon the “Hastert Excuse” lowered their opinion of the GOP, and 62% said their opinion would improve if Boehner allows a bipartisan vote.

Seventy-seven percent of likely 2014 voters in Rep. Valadao’s district support immigration legislation along the lines of HR 15, including 75% of Republicans. Only 18% of voters oppose this type of immigration reform. The citizenship component of this legislation is supported by 69% of likely voters (74% of Republicans).

If Rep. Valadao were to sponsor legislation along these lines, 38% of voters in CD-21 say they would be more likely to vote for him, while 35% say it would not change their vote either way. Forty-seven percent of Republican men and nearly 50% of Independent men say they would be more likely to vote for Valadao if he sponsors the bill.

If Republicans and Democrats work together to pass this proposal, 57% of likely voters in this district—including 63% of Republicans—say they would have a better opinion of Republicans in Congress. Only 17% of all likely voters and 14% of Republicans say it would give them a lower opinion of the GOP.

Voters in CD-21 also believe in democracy. Fifty percent say that the Speaker of the House should hold an up-or-down vote on the immigration bill and let a bipartisan majority speak. Only 34% say he should wait until a majority of Republican members specifically agree. In a July 2013 Latino Decisions poll in 24 Republican-held battleground districts, 71% of Latino voters said that Speaker Boehner’s reliance upon the “Hastert Excuse” lowered their opinion of the GOP, and 62% said their opinion would improve if Boehner allows a bipartisan vote.

Seventy-four percent of likely 2014 voters in Rep. Nunes’ district support immigration legislation along the lines of HR 15, including 71% of Republicans. Only 20% of voters oppose this type of immigration reform. The citizenship component in this legislation is supported by 69% of likely voters (71% of Republicans).

If Rep. Nunes were to sponsor legislation along these lines, 35% of voters in CD-22 say they would be more likely to vote for him, while 41% say it would not change their vote either way. Forty-four percent of Republican men and 46% of Independent men say they would be more likely to vote for Nunes if he sponsors the bill.

If Republicans and Democrats work together to pass this proposal, 57% of likely voters in this district—including 64% of Republicans —say they would have a better opinion of Republicans in Congress. Only 17% of all likely voters and 14% of Republicans say it would give them a lower opinion of the GOP.

Voters in CD-22 also believe in democracy. Fifty-six percent say that the Speaker of the House should hold an up-or-down vote on the immigration bill and let a bipartisan majority speak. Only 32% say he should wait until a majority of Republican members specifically agree. In a July 2013 Latino Decisions poll in 24 Republican-held battleground districts, 71% of Latino voters said that Speaker Boehner’s reliance upon the “Hastert Excuse” lowered their opinion of the GOP, and 62% said their opinion would improve if Boehner allows a bipartisan vote .

[ii] Described as “legislation that would significantly increase border security, block employers from hiring undocumented immigrants, and make sure that undocumented immigrants already in the U.S. with no criminal record register for legal status. If immigrants were to meet a list of requirements, they could eventually apply for citizenship.”

[iii] Described as ensuring “undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. pay a penalty, learn English, pass a criminal background check, pay taxes, and wait a minimum of thirteen years before they can be eligible for citizenship.”

]]>https://americasvoice.org/content/resources-new-house-immigration-bill/feed/0The State of Play in the House of Representativeshttps://americasvoice.org/content/the-state-of-play-in-the-house-of-representatives/
https://americasvoice.org/content/the-state-of-play-in-the-house-of-representatives/#respondFri, 27 Sep 2013 18:54:21 +0000http://americasvoiceonline.org/?p=49327In the past week the fight for immigration reform in the House of Representatives has been shaken up by some key developments. This has led to much discussion and analysis regarding their impact. Some have grown more pessimistic, but we at America’s Voice have become more optimistic. Here’s our take. — Four key developments A … Continue reading »

]]>In the past week the fight for immigration reform in the House of Representatives has been shaken up by some key developments. This has led to much discussion and analysis regarding their impact. Some have grown more pessimistic, but we at America’s Voice have become more optimistic. Here’s our take.

—

Four key developments

A week ago Friday, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) went public with the fact that the bipartisan group working on reform legislation in the House was disbanding. The reason? Not policy differences, but partisan politics. The Group of 7 had stalled out because, according to Gutierrez, “The bipartisan group just wasn’t getting support from Republican House leadership.”

Later last Friday, fellow Group of 7 members Reps. Sam Johnson (R-TX) and John Carter (R-TX) put their own spin on the group’s breakup. They blamed Obama.

Finally, this week, news broke that House Democrats are gearing up to introduce legislation based on the bipartisan Senate bill but with some changes, such as swapping in the McCaul-Thompson border security bill in exchange for the border surge amendment added to the final Senate bill. Thus, Democrats are doing exactly what they said they would do in August. Frustrated with the slow speed of House GOP action on immigration reform, they issued an ultimatum: introduce a broad bipartisan bill by the end of September, or the Democrats would introduce one of their own.

What does this mean? Our view is that these developments actually improve chances for real bipartisanship and the passage of reform this year.

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But What About the Conventional Wisdom that Says We’re Dead?

We understand that our optimism stands in contrast to the inside-the-beltway pessimism about our chances. But then, when has the conventional wisdom about our movement and our cause been accurate? Over the years we’ve been told that Latino and immigrant voters would never make a difference in electoral outcomes; that immigration is a third rail issue that works against Democrats in favor of Republicans; that the anti-immigrant movement and the Tea Party are much stronger than pro-reform forces; that immigration reform with a path to citizenship is too far out of the mainstream and too unpopular to gain traction; that President Obama would never take bold executive action to protect DREAMers; that we would never be able to dominate our opponents over the August recess; and so forth. The conventional wisdom turned out to be wrong in every case. We predict that our power will trump their predictions once again.

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From Process Games to Policy Outcomes

The most frustrating aspect of the current situation is that real movement in the House depends on House Republican leaders. While we continue to do everything we can to ratchet up the pressure – from organizing in districts, holding rallies, getting arrested and demanding action – the fact remains that they control the agenda and timing. The good news is that House leadership has made it clear that inaction is not an option and that they are gearing up for votes in the fall. The bad news is that they’ve conceded to their right on process. Thus, they say they won’t bring up the Senate bill, will proceed with piecemeal legislation rather than one comprehensive bill and will observe the so-called Hastert Rule (bills will only come up for floor votes if a majority of the majority – 117 Republicans – support the measure).

So, how do we navigate a weak House Republican leadership, a divided House Republican caucus and the process excuses they’ve thrown in the way of progress? For one, let’s come from strength. Today – right now – the votes exist in the House to pass broad immigration reform with a path to citizenship. With some 195 Democrats in favor, and with 26 Republicans declared, we have more than 218 votes.

Second, we should bear in mind that the only way House Republicans can pass anything on immigration is with Democratic votes. This is because some 25 – 30 of the 234 House Republicans (think Rep. Steve King and his allies) have announced their intention to oppose any immigration bill that comes to the House floor for fear that it will lead to negotiations with the Senate and end up as a comprehensive approach that includes a path to citizenship. How might this need for Democratic votes play out? Let’s say Speaker Boehner and company decide they want to pass the McCaul-Thompson border security bill as well as the so-called KIDS Act (the House GOP version of the DREAM Act which is expected to be introduced soon). Both would probably be able to attract a majority of Republicans. But the only way Republicans can get to 218 votes on both measures is with Democratic votes.

This gives House Democrats leverage – on policy and process. In exchange for Democratic votes, they could demand improvements in the policy dimensions of the measures, insist that the GOP drop the SAFE Act and request the House leadership to announce their intention to enter into good faith negotiation with the Senate on all relevant issues, including legalization with a path to citizenship. Since it is expected that comprehensive reformers will have the upper hand in House-Senate negotiations, this is but one way for a piecemeal process in the House to result in a comprehensive bill coming out of conference.

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The Next “Bipartisan Moment”

Once Republicans decide to move forward in the House, and once they realize they can do nothing without Democratic votes, a new bipartisan moment will be on hand. Re-enter, stage left, Rep. Luis Gutierrez, House Democratic Caucus Chair Xavier Becerra and House Immigration Subcommittee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren. Freed up from a moribund process that was going nowhere, they are in a perfect position to work with Republicans to win policy and process concessions. They have proven their commitment to bipartisan reform by working in good faith with Republicans on immigration reform, they enjoy support from the immigration reform movement and they are committed to getting reform enacted this year. When Republicans come knocking, it is these champions who will be there to open the door.

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Democrats Introduce a Bill to Rally the Troops and Pressure Republicans

Up until last week, Democrats were deferring to the G7 Working Group. With the demise of that initiative, Democrats are gearing up to do what they promised: As the New Democratic Caucus made clear in August, if the bipartisan process yields no bill by the end of September 30th, Democrats would introduce one of their own. So, the New Democratic Coalition, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus are working on a bill that is anchored in bipartisan policy and aimed at rallying the Democrats and pressuring the Republicans.

From our point of view, this is a smart strategy. It will put Democrats on record, and it will likely compel pro-reform Republicans to either support the bill or pressure their leadership to take action, both of which will pressure the House Republican leadership to find a way forward.

Why a bill based on the bipartisan Senate bill? Because it will put extra pressure on for those 26 House Republicans who say they are for reform with a path to citizenship. They and other pro-reform Republicans will have to decide whether or not to support legislation that was drafted by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), voted for by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and improved on with a border security measure authored by Rep. Mike McCaul (R-TX).

We don’t expect this bill to be the vehicle for action in the House, for ultimately only House Republicans leadership will decide what is brought forward and when. But we do expect the existence of this bill to remind people, over and over, that until they act, the Republicans are blocking reform. The goal is not partisan gridlock but a new “bipartisan moment.”

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Our Path to Victory is Based on Strong Fundamentals and a Strong Movement

We understand that it’s hard to imagine such a dysfunctional Congress doing something as big as immigration reform. But at the end of the day, we believe our fundamentals are stronger than their dysfunction. For example, the Republicans need to pass reform and share credit for doing so for their survival as a national party; the Democrats need to pass reform to show Latinos and immigrants they can deliver change and not just promises; the American people hunger for their leaders to solve tough problems and support our solution; and pro-reform constituencies from across the political spectrum are stronger than ever.

Moreover, as we all know, this issue and our movement are not going away. There are 11 million undocumented immigrants and millions of friends and allies who simply won’t give up. We can’t. Every single day of delay inflicts a heavy toll. Every day Boehner, Cantor, and McCarthy delay, another one thousand families are torn apart. Every day President Obama and DHS continue the detention and deportation mill that results in 400,000 deportations a year, immigrants who would be eligible for relief under pending legislation are ripped away from their homes and jobs. This is what drives us to fight for legislative relief and executive action.

Finally, we are not some legislative campaign that will go away once legislation passes or not. We are a broad, deep and dynamic movement that gets stronger every day. We will fight until we win dignity and respect for all immigrants. We will not stop and we will find a way. In fact, we are closer than many think. Let’s stay positive, stay focused and draw strength from the hope, optimism and power of the immigrants we fight with and for.

]]>https://americasvoice.org/content/the-state-of-play-in-the-house-of-representatives/feed/0Memo: Immigration State of Playhttps://americasvoice.org/content/memo-immigration-state-of-play/
https://americasvoice.org/content/memo-immigration-state-of-play/#respondMon, 23 Sep 2013 19:31:26 +0000http://americasvoiceonline.org/?p=49236To: Interested Parties From: America’s Voice Re: Immigration State of Play Date: September 23, 2013 After years of closed-door meetings, Reps. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Sam Johnson (R-TX), and John Carter (R-TX) announced the hiatus of their bipartisan working group on immigration last week. Johnson and Carter blamed the dissolution of their group on President Obama, … Continue reading »

After years of closed-door meetings, Reps. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Sam Johnson (R-TX), and John Carter (R-TX) announced the hiatus of their bipartisan working group on immigration last week. Johnson and Carter blamed the dissolution of their group on President Obama, but what’s really happening is that House Republicans are pursuing a Republican-first strategy on every issue, including immigration.

What House Republicans will soon realize, however, is that they can’t pass game-changing immigration reform alone, and the failure to do so will haunt them in future elections. They can either work with Democrats and share in the credit of passing broad reform, or refuse to work with Democrats and shoulder the blame.

This memo will address three key areas:

Seeing through House Republicans’ Excuses

The Political Costs of Inaction – Harm in 2014 & Disaster in 2016 for the GOP

The Human Costs of Inaction –Why the Immigration Movement Won’t Stop Fighting Until We Pass Reform

In the 88 days since the Senate passed its bill, up to 100,000 immigrants who may have benefited from the law have instead been deported. During that same time period, over 331,300 new U.S. citizens with ties to the immigration debate (Latinos, Asians, and naturalized citizens) have become eligible to vote. To themthis is not just a policy issue, it’s personal. They are backed by a broad, diverse, powerful, and relentless movement that believes all families should be united.

This is why we are confident that broad immigration reform will pass the House: the cost of inaction for the GOP is too high, the politics of the issue for the GOP are too clear, and our movement won’t take no for an answer.

Seeing through House Republicans’ Excuses

House Republican leadership, led by Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Cantor and Majority Whip McCarthy, will either find a way to get reform done this year or find themselves blamed for blocking it.

Taking a vote on immigration reform this year is not a question of a tight calendar or a difficult process; it’s a question of political will. Using debates over Syria and fiscal issues as an excuse for inaction this year is a weak excuse; Congress should be able to tackle more than two issues in four months. And, Congress can find the time to do it, even if that means expanding the already paltry calendar.

Some Influential House Republicans are pushing the storyline that immigration reform is being crowded off the congressional calendar. It’s not hard to see through the excuses. As The Washington Post’s Greg Sargent noted, “If immigration reform dies, it’s only because the House GOP leadership decided to kill it. That’s just all there is to it.”

In a blistering column, the most influential voice in Spanish media – Univisión’s Jorge Ramos – makes it clear that he and other Spanish-language media leaders are going to continue to shine their spotlight on Congress until the House schedules a vote on a path to citizenship for 11 million aspiring Americans this year. As Ramos wrote in La Opinión: “Delaying the debate over immigration reform because of the conflict in Syria is simply an unacceptable excuse. Truly important things should not be delayed. Syria and immigration can, and should, both be discussed and resolved before the year ends. At the end of the day, this is Congress’ job.”

By now, it’s clear that the “Hastert Rule,” under which the House GOP will only consider bills that are supported by a majority of its caucus, should be renamed the “Hastert Excuse.” Speaker Boehner has disregarded this self-imposed gimmick four times already in 2013. As ThinkProgressrecently tallied, “first on a bill to avert the Fiscal Cliff, second to pass aid for those affected by Superstorm Sandy, third on a bill to allow federal acquisition of historic sites, and finally, to pass the Violence Against Women Act. Even the House leadership aide who coined the term, John Feehery, told The Atlantic’s Molly Ball that Speaker Boehner “ought to ditch” it. As Ball characterized of their conversation: “Given the current ‘ungovernable’ state of the House GOP caucus, he told me, Boehner must balance the risk to his own standing with the ‘larger reputational risk’ to the Republican Party.” When Boehner agreed to hold a vote on use of military force against Syria, the Hastert excuse was never raised.

The stubborn fact is that right now, today, a bipartisan majority exists in the House of Representatives to pass immigration reform with a path to citizenship. Hiding behind the Hastert Excuse will not absolve the GOP should it be invoked to kill immigration reform. And, while the House dithers, immigrants who would be eligible for citizenship instead face deportation.

House GOP leaders need to stop relying on procedural and calendar excuses, blow past the delay and derail approach. They’ve got to move beyond the crisis mindset the defines the budget and debt debate to rationality on immigration reform. Instead, they need to empower serious Republicans to work with serious Democrats to get this done.

We’re watching. The Latino Community is watching. Spanish Language media is watching.

The Republican Party has a Latino problem that will only be cured if House passes immigration reform legislation with a path to citizenship.

If the House GOP blocks reform, the political consequences will be severe: the GOP will lose the White House in 2016 and perhaps for a generation; in 2014, they will lose seats in the House, and eventually their majority. This has played out in California for decades since Governor Pete Wilson led the effort to pass the anti-immigrant Proposition 187. At a national level, the pro-immigration movement has continued to expand and become more sophisticated since 2006 when House Republicans passed harsh anti-immigrant legislation.

A quick refresher: In 2010, the unexpected victories of pro-immigrant candidates like Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) in races against hardline anti-immigrant opponents, helped stop the “Republican wave” at the Rockies and kept the U.S. Senate in Democratic hands. In 2012, President Obama secured over 70% of the Latino vote, running against a GOP nominee who supported self-deportation.

In 2013, there are governors’ races in Virginia and New jersey. In New Jersey, Republican Chris Christie, running for reelection, is considered the solid frontrunner. He has a long history of support for immigrants and reform.

Virginia is another story. The open seat is being contested by Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Ken Cuccinelli. In that battleground state, immigration is a key issue. Cuccinelli has taken a hard-line anti-immigrant stance while McAuliffe has become a supporter of reform. Now, the Washington Post reports that Cuccinelli is trying to soften his image:

Cuccinelli, Virginia’s attorney general, championed hard-line immigration policies while rising through the state ranks — but he has awkwardly sought to play down his record in hopes of not alienating Hispanics and Asians who represent a small but growing part of Virginia’s electorate.

Republican leaders have conceded that presidential nominee Mitt Romney damaged his candidacy last fall bypromoting “self-deportation,” and some have pushed the party to embrace more liberal policies to woo Hispanics and move the issue off the agenda in future elections.

Yes, even Virginia.

A recent report by Rob Paral of the Immigration Policy Center found that, “Young Asians and Latinos will have a major impact on the composition of newly eligible voters in upcoming elections,” noting that “about 1.8 million U.S. citizen Asians and Latinos become eligible to vote in each two-year election cycle. Immigrants who become U.S. citizens through naturalization will also be a significant contributor to the evolving electorate. Each election cycle, about 1.4 million of these new citizens become eligible to vote nationally. Together, these groups will constitute 34 percent of all newly eligible voters in the 2014 elections.”

Ron Brownstein’s recent cover story for National Journal, “Bad Bet: Why Republicans Can’t Win With Whites Alone” is a must-read, presenting a compelling case that the Republican Party must diversify its appeal to the new American electorate to win future national elections. Ron Brownstein notes, “Weighing all these factors, most political professionals in both parties who have expressed an opinion are somewhere between dubious and scornful of the notion that Republicans can rely almost entirely on further gains with whites to recapture the presidency without meaningfully improving among minorities.”

As the Republican pollster Whit Ayres told Brownstein, the “whites-first argument” is “not getting much penetration among people who are serious about winning presidential elections. It is getting traction among people who are trying to justify voting against immigration reform or making any of the other changes that are necessary to be nationally competitive in the 21st century.” Pollster and demographics expert Ruy Teixeira also has demolished the myth that the Republican Party can appeal only to white voters. Among Teixeira’s five reasons: “Every year, the pool of white voters shrinks. The most important reason why the GOP’s desperate quest to squeeze ever more voters out of the white population is doomed to fail is that every year there are fewer of them.”

Republicans should be worried. Currently, at least 26 GOP House members publicly support a path to citizenship. Along with another 40+ GOP Representatives who need it – also must put pressure on their leadership to act. When it comes to Latino voters and immigration reform, talk is cheap and actions matter. Besides the GOP seats that become vulnerable, supporting immigration bolsters Democrats who might otherwise be at risk. It’s easy to imagine all the campaign ads in Latino-heavy target districts if the House fails to take up broad immigration reform.

While some pundits believe the gerrymandered districts will protect Republicans in 2014, there another election coming up. And, 2016 looms large.

If the House Republicans block immigration reform, the party will be further branded as anti-immigrant and anti-Latino. It will hurt them with a wide swath of the “coalition of the ascendant” – Latinos, Asians, other immigrants, young people, women, college-educated professionals and independents who abhor extremism. It means they will be unable to win the White House in 2016 and beyond.

There is already enormous pressure on the President to use his executive authority again. In August, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) warned his party about that prospect. If House Republicans fail to pass real reform, the pressure on the President will only increase. He has broad legal authority to act. If that happens, Republicans will have lost their opportunity to redeem themselves with the immigrant community. The only immigration vote the full House has taken was on an amendment offered by Rep. Steve King (R-IA) to defund the DACA program. On June 5, it passed by a 224 – 201 margin. No doubt, any action by the President will be met with that kind of resistance from House Republicans. Their only way out is to pass immigration reform with a path to citizenship and get it signed into law.

Without a significantly improved performance among Latino voters, the Republican Party’s future as a nationally competitive political party is in doubt. Many top Republican strategists, including Karl Rove, understand that. And while the Latino electorate’s disconnect from the current Republican Party runs deeper than immigration alone, it will be impossible for the GOP to get a hearing on its other issues unless and until they work to pass real immigration reform.

The trendline is heading in our direction – and fast. In 2004, President Bush received approximately 40% of the Latino vote nationwide in his campaign against Democratic nominee John Kerry. That’s the percentage of Latino voters that a Republican must secure in order to win. Just eight years later, Republican nominee Mitt Romney received only 23% Latino support of a much larger Latino electorate in his race against President Obama.

The Republicans could also heed the lesson of California. Latino Decisions analyzed voting trends in California, asking and answering a critical question: “How did California go from a Republican stronghold to a Democratic lock? The answer is clear – anti-immigrant policy and a frustrated and mobilized Latino vote.” As LD’s Matt Barreto noted, “Republicans have permanently written off 55 electoral college votes – or approximately 20% of the amount needed to reach 270.”

This also brings us to the question: What Are They Afraid Of? Anti-Immigrant Opposition is a Paper Tiger

In 2012, Mitt Romney based his immigration strategy on advice from leaders of the anti-immigrant movement, including Kris Kobach. Look where that got him. Besides bad political advice, Kobach has been on a string of losing court cases on immigration, too. President Obama’s reelection was aided greatly by his action to protect DREAMers from deportation. Romney opposed it and Kobach sued to stop it.

But, the anti-immigrant side has leaders that give bad advice, there is no movement. The August recess displayed the power of the growing immigration reform movement. It also demonstrated that there is no real opposition to reform. The iconic photo of Rep. Steve King standing alone at a major rally in Richmond tells the non-story of the opposition.

The opponents of immigration reform are extreme and don’t speak for majority of Americans.

Just about everyone agrees the status quo is terrible and that the broken system must be fixed. Inaction by the Republican House leadership is a vote for the status quo, which in turn exacts a terrible human cost for immigrants every day. And, the status quo inflicts pain on thousands of families every day.

Every day they delay is another day that families are ripped apart, workers are exploited, migrants die in the desert and 1,100 people are deported. Most of those being deported today would qualify for legal status under the provisions of the Senate bill, which passed in June. If the House would pass similar legislation – and that could have been done months ago – those deportations could end.

In addition, President Obama should order DHS to stop deporting people who qualify for legal status under pending legislation.

It’s critical for anyone covering the issue to understand the importance of the immigration issue to Latino voters. It is the top issue of concern to that community because it is personal. In March, Latino Decisions explained the personal connections Latino voters have to immigration reform:

Latino Decisions released new polling data today highlighting why immigration reform has become the number one political issue for Latino voters, and the answer is close personal connections between Latino voters and Latino undocumented immigrants. The poll finds that 58% of Latino registered voters now cite immigration reform as the top priority for the Congress and President, up from 35% in November 2012. One reason is that 63% of Latino voters say they personally know someone who is an undocumented immigrant, either a member of their family or a close personal friend. Further, 39% of Latino voters say they personally know someone, or a family who has faced deportation or detention for immigration reasons, and increase of 14 points over 2011, when 25% of Latino voters said they personally knew someone who had faced deportation or detention.

Over the past several months, Spanish language media has given extensive coverage of the immigration debate. The Latino community is well versed on the issue – because of the consequences to so many of their family and friends. This isn’t just another political issue. It’s their lives.

]]>https://americasvoice.org/content/memo-immigration-state-of-play/feed/0All Eyes on the House: Creating a Path to Citizenship for 11 Million Aspiring Americans This Yearhttps://americasvoice.org/content/all-eyes-on-the-house-creating-a-path-to-citizenship-for-11-million-aspiring-americans-this-year/
https://americasvoice.org/content/all-eyes-on-the-house-creating-a-path-to-citizenship-for-11-million-aspiring-americans-this-year/#respondTue, 17 Sep 2013 21:26:46 +0000http://americasvoiceonline.org/?p=49110Updated September 18, 2013 We are at a critical juncture in the fight to pass immigration reform with a path to citizenship for 11 million aspiring Americans. Below is our take on the choices House leaders are facing today and the factors that will force them to do the right thing. Answers to frequently asked … Continue reading »

We are at a critical juncture in the fight to pass immigration reform with a path to citizenship for 11 million aspiring Americans. Below is our take on the choices House leaders are facing today and the factors that will force them to do the right thing. Answers to frequently asked questions appear at the end of the document.

It takes 218 votes to pass a bill in the House of Representatives and right now – today – we have more than 218 votes for immigration reform with a path to citizenship. It’s up to House Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy to bring reform to the floor and let the bipartisan majority work its will. We will not accept process or timing excuses. We have the votes and we have the time to pass a strong immigration reform bill this year.

The movement for reform is strong and getting stronger every day. For us, this fight is personal. It’s about our families, our communities and our nation’s future. We reject policies that would hurt us like the “Safe to Profile” Act and a new bracero program. We will not stop until 11 million aspiring Americans have a chance to earn citizenship in the country they call home.

We are already halfway there. The Senate has passed a good bill with strong bipartisan support. The House can and must do the same.

Every day the House Republicans delay a vote on reform with a path to citizenship, 1,100 people are deported. At the same time we call on Republicans to stop delaying and give us a vote on citizenship, we call on the Obama Administration to stop deporting people who could qualify for legal status when reform passes.

It takes 218 votes to pass a bill in the House of Representatives and right now – today – we have more than 218 votes for immigration reform with a path to citizenship. It’s up to House Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy to bring reform to the floor and let the bipartisan majority work its will.

A key part of a democracy is letting the majority express itself. More than 80% of Americans support immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants here today. A strong bipartisan majority of Senators voted for such a bill, and a bipartisan majority of House members— around 200 Democrats and at least 26 Republicans– would vote for this reform today if Republican leadership brought it forward.

Right now, House Republicans are steering down a partisan path. But no one party can pass this alone, in neither chamber. The Senate worked on a bipartisan basis and passed a strong bill with support from 68 Senators. House Republicans should do the same, and work with Democrats to deliver the immigration solution America wants and needs.

We also need the Democrats to show leadership and do their part to make reform a reality this year. House Democratic leadership and the rank and file must do everything in their power to pass immigration reform in the lower chamber and negotiate a final package with the Senate. The pro-reform movement is not interested in political games— we expect a result this year.

We will not accept process or timing excuses. We have the votes and we have the time to pass a strong immigration reform bill this year.

Instead of giving us a vote, Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy are giving us excuses. The House has plenty of time left on the calendar to pass immigration reform on a bipartisan basis this year. If there is a will to get it done, there is a way.

The so-called “Hastert Rule”—where Republicans refuse to bring a bill to the floor unless it is first signed off on by a majority of their party—should really be called the “Hastert Excuse.” The Speaker has already disregarded it several times before to pass bills with bipartisan support. When he wants to play politics, he invokes it and when he wants to get things done, he ignores it. We want leaders to lead and get things done, not play games and block us from making progress.

The movement for reform is strong and getting stronger every day. For us, this fight is personal. It’s about our families, our communities and our nation’s future. We reject policies that would hurt us like the “Safe to Profile” Act and a new bracero program. We will not stop until 11 million aspiring Americans have a chance to earn citizenship in the country they call home.

Inaction by the Republican House leadership is a vote for the status quo, where thousands of American families face deportation and separation every day. The longer the House Republican leadership delays in giving us a vote on immigration reform with a path citizenship, the higher the human and political cost.

Two-thirds of Latino voters know someone who is undocumented; at least 50% have family members who would benefit from immigration reform. That’s why reform is such a personal priority for millions of Latinos. Speaker Boehner and Republican leaders can either be the heroes who help make reform a reality, or the zeroes who are blamed for blocking it.

If the House GOP refuses to vote on reform, the political consequences will be severe: the GOP will lose the White House in 2016 and perhaps for a generation; and they will lose seats in the House in 2014, and eventually their majority. It will not only hurt them with Latinos, but with a wide swath of the “coalition of the ascendant”—Asians, other immigrants, young people, women, college-educated professionals and independent voters. The only way Republicans can change this path is to work with Democrats and pass reasonable immigration reform.

Our movement is getting stronger every day. This is personal for us. We are fighting for our loved ones. And we won’t stop until we achieve a permanent solution that grants dignity and respect to all immigrant workers and families.

At the same time we are fighting for a path to citizenship for aspiring Americans, we oppose proposals on the table that would hurt our communities. For example Chairman Goodlatte’s “SAFE Act” should be renamed the “Safe to Profile Act.” It applies the worst excesses of Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s immigration policy nationwide, and turns anyone who looks or sounds like an immigrant into a target for the police. And Goodlatte’s Agriculture Guestworker Act is simply a modern-day bracero program that treats immigrant farmworkers like pairs of hands instead of human beings. These are not policies that we can accept.

We have support from across the country and from across the political spectrum. Our movement includes the labor movement and businesses, faith groups and ethnic groups, immigrants and evangelicals, high tech and farm workers, law enforcement and civil rights groups. As we proved during the August congressional recess, we are strong and our opponents are weak. There is nothing for House Republican leaders to be afraid of.

We are already halfway there. The Senate has passed a good bill with strong bipartisan support. The House can and must do the same.

We need reform that puts 11 million undocumented immigrants on an immediate and inclusive path to legal status and an achievable path to full citizenship. Hard working immigrant families deserve a chance to earn the full rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

We oppose the idea of consigning millions of immigrants to a permanent underclass where they can work forever but achieve citizenship never.

We need reform that keeps families together, protects workers from exploitation, grows our economy, and fixes our broken immigration system once and for all.

While enforcement of the new immigration system will be part of any final bill, the policies must be targeted and accountable–not excessive and extreme.

The House Republicans’ so-called SAFE Act – which many call “Arpaio’s Law” – would turn the worst abuses of Sheriff Joe Arpaio into national policy. It would enlist states in the racial profiling of Latinos and others based on how they look or sound, and turn hard working immigrants who yearn to be U.S. citizens into so-called criminals. It would create a civil rights crisis for people who appear to be immigrants, and a public safety crisis for communities as relationships between police and immigrant communities are destroyed.

The “border surge” amendment adopted in the Senate would unnecessarily militarize our border with a friendly neighbor, threaten the civil rights of millions of border residents and waste billions of dollars at a time when unauthorized immigration across the U.S.-Mexico border is already at net zero.

We know the conventional wisdom is pessimistic about reform’s chances. But we don’t pay much attention to the conventional wisdom. We are used to being discounted by doubters. Over the years we’ve been told that Latino and immigrant voters would never make a difference in electoral outcomes; that immigration is a third rail issue that works against Democrats in favor of Republicans; that the anti-immigrant movement and the Tea Party are much stronger than pro-reform forces; that immigration reform with a path to citizenship is far out of the mainstream and unpopular; that President Obama would never take bold executive action to protect DREAMers; and that we would never be able to outflank our opponents in public demonstrations of support. The conventional wisdom turned out to be wrong in every case, and we are optimistic our power will overcome the predictions of pundits.

Every day the House Republicans delay a vote on reform with a path to citizenship, 1,100 people are deported. At the same time we call on Republicans to stop delaying and give us a vote on citizenship, we call on the Obama Administration to stop deporting people who could qualify for legal status when reform passes.

We need immigration reform that unites families, not immigration enforcement that divides them.

Our movement will not rest until 11 million immigrants and their families can earn citizenship and live freely in the country they call home.

With so many things on the to-do list for Congress, what makes you think they can fit in immigration reform this year?

There is plenty of time on the calendar to get this done; House Republican leadership is simply hiding behind the calendar as an excuse not to act. This is what frustrates people most about Congress—they spend so much time playing political games and so little time doing their jobs. The House will be in session until mid-December. They have other important things they have to work on, but there is still plenty of time to pass immigration reform this year.

Plus, we’re already halfway there. The Senate passed a good bill in June. A bipartisan majority in the House would support something like what the Senate passed. We can see the finish line. All we need is for House Republican leaders to schedule the vote. If there’s a will to get it done, there’s definitely a way.

What about the Hastert Rule? Isn’t that standing in your way?

It’s not the Hastert Rule, it’s the Hastert Excuse. Republican leaders use the Hastert Excuse when they want to slow things down. When they want to pass things, they throw it out the window.

It’s the same with immigration as it is on every issue—Republicans are divided between the ideologues and the pragmatists. If Republicans want to get something done, they have to work with Democrats. If they just want to look like they’re doing something—but end in a stalemate—they will continue down the same partisan path.

How will you change House Republicans’ minds?

We’re bringing relentless, direct pressure to the home districts of vulnerable Republicans because frankly, pressure and political pain are the only things they respond to. We’re going to make them feel the same urgency we do. Every day, 1100 American families are torn apart by deportations. Every year, hundreds of thousands of children lose a parent to deportation. And every two years, over 3 million more Latino, Asian, and naturalized citizens become eligible to vote. House Republicans are destined to lose seats in 2014 and cede the White House to the Democrats in 2016 if they don’t get this issue off the table. Those are just a few of the reasons why Republicans should act now to pass commonsense immigration reform.

There are others: business growth and competitiveness, stability for U.S. agriculture, empowering workers to protect their rights. Law enforcement is making the case for immigration reform, as are religious groups from across the spectrum. The coalition in favor of a path to citizenship for undocumented Americans is simply unprecedented.

Our power comes from our coalition’s diversity but it mainly comes from our people. We are part of a real movement, led by immigrants and their loved ones, who will not give up until the House gives us a vote on a path to citizenship for all 11 million aspiring Americans. And that is why we are going to win.

If the House doesn’t act this year, isn’t immigration reform dead until 2015?

Absolutely not. First of all, we do think the House will act this year because of the pressure we are applying. But if for some reason the legislative debate extends into 2014, we have no plans of letting up. We actually see the increased pressure of an election year working to our advantage. Democrats want immigration reform to pass, but Republicans need it to pass. Imagine all the campaign commercials in Latino-heavy DCCC target districts if the House fails to take up broad immigration reform. It will be easy to draw the line between the good guys and the bad guys in that case.

If House Republicans want to protect these seats, they need to act on immigration reform. Talk is cheap, and actions are what count.

As House Judiciary Subcommittee Presides Over Latest GOP Immigration Stunt, New Report from the Alliance for Citizenship Documents How the 114th Congress Has Become the Most Anti-Immigrant Congress in Recent History

Washington DC – On Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., members of Congress will join with Civil Rights leaders to respond to the House Republicans latest anti-immigrant stunt – holding yet another hearing on ending birthright citizenship. Such a move would radically reinterpret the Constitution to end a fundamental American right and bring the Department of Homeland Security into delivery rooms nationwide.

Also at the event, the Alliance for Citizenship is releasing a new report documenting how the Republican-controlled 114th Congress has earned its place as the most anti-immigrant Congress in recent history.

]]>https://americasvoice.org/content/americas-voice-livestream-watch-here/feed/0Things You Can Do to Help Pass Immigration Reformhttps://americasvoice.org/content/immigration-reform-summer-things-you-can-do/
https://americasvoice.org/content/immigration-reform-summer-things-you-can-do/#respondMon, 05 Aug 2013 16:38:33 +0000http://americasvoiceonline.org/?p=47866Looking for a way that YOU can help pass immigration reform? Check out our list below. Please try any or all of the options–we need to keep showing Congress that the #TimeIsNow to pass reform! Town hall meetings are a traditional way to get face-to-face time with your Member of Congress. You can view … Continue reading »

]]>Looking for a way that YOU can help pass immigration reform? Check out our list below. Please try any or all of the options–we need to keep showing Congress that the #TimeIsNow to pass reform!

Town hall meetings are a traditional way to get face-to-face time with your Member of Congress. You can view a list of coming events near your hometown here. If you hear about an event that’s not on our list, please let us know here.

If you use Twitter, you can tweet at your member of Congress to support immigration reform. Don’t know the Twitter handle of your Member of Congress? Use our Twitter tool here and just plug in your zip code.

The traditional method of showing support for an issue is still one of the most effective. In this petition, we’re asking House Speaker John Boehner to give us a vote on immigration reform. We have more than enough votes to pass immigration reform with citizenship through the House–but Boehner won’t give us a vote because a majority of House Republicans don’t support it. It’s up to us to change his mind.

A letter to the editor printed in your local newspaper will almost certainly be seen by your Member of Congress, and is as effective as making 20 phone calls! Use our tool here to draft a letter and send it to your local paper.

The Capitol Hill switchboard number is: 888-787-9658. Many offices on Capitol Hill still use the number of calls they receive about an issue as a metric of how much support there exists for/against an issue. Help us keep their phone lines ringing off the hook! Once you dial the number and connect to the Capitol switchboard, just tell them which Member of Congress’ office you want to speak to and they’ll patch you through!

]]>https://americasvoice.org/content/immigration-reform-summer-things-you-can-do/feed/0New Latino Vote Polling from Key Battleground States: Watch Live-stream Here!https://americasvoice.org/content/new-latino-vote-polling-from-key-battleground-states-watch-live-stream-here/
https://americasvoice.org/content/new-latino-vote-polling-from-key-battleground-states-watch-live-stream-here/#respondMon, 05 Nov 2012 14:52:21 +0000http://americasvoiceonline.org/?p=37506Can Mitt Romney overcome his hardline immigration positions and meet his campaign’s ambitious goal of 38% of the Latino vote, in Florida and nationwide? Can Barack Obama build a strong enough case about his immigration record to energize and mobilize the Latino and immigrant community here and across the country? How will the issue of immigration reform … Continue reading »

Can Mitt Romney overcome his hardline immigration positions and meet his campaign’s ambitious goal of 38% of the Latino vote, in Florida and nationwide? Can Barack Obama build a strong enough case about his immigration record to energize and mobilize the Latino and immigrant community here and across the country? How will the issue of immigration reform impact the U.S. Senate and key House races in Florida? What do Latino voters think about Governor Rick Scott’s efforts to scrub the voter rolls for ineligible voters?

In key swing states like Florida, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Virginia–as well as at the national level–Latino and new citizen voters are changing politics. While they care about the same issues as all Americans, they have a unique and personal connection to the immigration debate that shapes their political views.

Throughout October, America’s Voice with Latino Decisions will be holding a series of panels–all live-streamed–in these battleground states across the nation. During each of these events, we will be releasing brand-new polling of local Latino voters, providing insights into how they’re voting, what they support, and how enthusiastic they are to vote. A diverse panel of experts will analyze the findings and assess how Latino voters and the immigration issue will shape the Presidential, Senate, and House races in these states and beyond.

]]>https://americasvoice.org/content/new-latino-vote-polling-from-key-battleground-states-watch-live-stream-here/feed/0Video: New Mexico Pollinghttps://americasvoice.org/content/video-new-mexico-polling/
https://americasvoice.org/content/video-new-mexico-polling/#respondThu, 11 Oct 2012 21:22:03 +0000http://americasvoiceonline.org/?p=37744 Wednesday, October 17 Panelists: Lucia Fraire, Field Director of Voter Program, Ole New Mexico Rafael Martinez, DREAMer and PHD student in American Studies Gabriel Sanchez, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of New Mexico and Director of Research for Latino Decisions Christine Sierra, Professor of Political Science, University of New Mexico and Director, Southwest Hispanic … Continue reading »